John Favara

John Favara (4 March 1929-28 July 1980) was the backyard neighbor of Gambino crime family captain John Gotti in Howard Beach, New York. In 1980, he accidentally killed Gotti's son Frank in a car accident, leading to his murder at the hands of Sammy Gravano.

Biography
John Favara was born in Queens, New York City, New York on 4 March 1929, and he lived next to John Gotti in Howard Beach. He worked as a service department manager for the Castro Convertibles furniture store in New Hyde Park, and his adopted son was a close friend of the Gotti children. Favara was also a childhood friend of Gambino crime family caporegime Ettore Zappi, although he chose to remain legitimate. On 18 March 1980, while returning home from work in his car, Favara struck 12-year-old Frank Gotti, who darted into the street on a motorized minibike from behind a dumpster. Gotti was killed, but no charges were ever filed against Favara, as it was an accident. The boy's mother Victoria Gotti tried to attack him with a baseball bat, but she missed every swing, and Favara did not file charges against her.

Death
John Gotti pointedly admonished his associate Sammy Gravano for inquiring into his son's death, saying that it was an accident, and telling Gravano to leave it alone. However, Gravano discovered Favara's identity, and he decided to avenge Frank Gotti's death. On 28 July 1980, Gravano and an accomplice ambushed Favara under a pedestrian overpass, where Gravano and his accomplice beat him and kicked him against a wall. Favara fell to the ground, and Gravano proceeded to shoot him twice. Favara's body was never found.